What is bioinformatics?

Basically, bioinformatics = biology + computer; implementation of computational tools to biological research. You can say that bio info serves to save time when doing a real experiment. For example, when you design primers to amplify a particular fragment of DNA, you can design 7 to 8 pairs and check them for their GC content, Tm etc. Using some tool that will calculate these units on basis of base composition of primers. Then, you can select the best primer and carry on. You might have heard the term 'in silicon' which means performed on the computer. This is called simulation doing experiments in a simulated environment on computer instead of real environment. As you can understand, this would save time and resources as you can do any simulation any time and based on results, you can design your real experiment to validate your computational results. I classify bioinformatics broadly into 3 groups- 1. Proteomics 2. Genomics 3. Development of algorithms /software First two are directly related to biology - proteins and DNA. Third is core computer Science. Proteomics is mainly prediction of protein structure and function. A new gene found, new protein predicted, you have to know what does it do, right? Because everything we are is all thanks to proteins. So you can start by predicting it computationally, then testing your results in wet lab experiments. There are many methods and many algorithms for structure prediction. Here, you learn which method to use, why to use it and how to use it. Proteomics finds it application almost everywhere, but mostly in drug designing, a lengthy process. Start to end, development of a drug requires 12 to 13 years, you will study that. Here, bio info is applied to test how would a drug molecule respond inside bodily environment; again simulation. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://crbtech.in/programmes/clinical-research-training-programme" style='word-wrap:break-word;'>https://crbtech.in/programmes/clinical-research-training-programme</a>.

0 Upvotes 0 Upvotes 0 Downvotes

• • Report Abuse
• Comment

Dear student, It is a computer based information in which you can analyse and integrate genetic knowledge and biological knowledge.

0 Upvotes 0 Upvotes 0 Downvotes

• • Report Abuse
• Comment